Abstract: An automatic analyzer cleans dispensing nozzles that dispense a sample or reagent using a rinse tank. The rinse tank includes first and second rinse liquid discharge ports arranged along the bottom and top of the rinse tank, respectively. The first rinse liquid discharge ports face the top of the rinse tank. The second rinse liquid discharge ports supply rinse liquid to flow to an exterior of the dispensing nozzles when aligned therewith. Each dispensing nozzle is rinsed by moving from a first position aligned with one of the first rinse liquid discharge ports to a second position aligned with one of the second rinse liquid discharge ports.

Abstract: A thermal cycler includes an attachment unit having an insertion opening for insertion of a reaction container including a channel filled with a reaction solution containing reverse transcriptase enzyme and a liquid having a lower specific gravity than that of the reaction solution and being immiscible with the reaction solution, a first heating unit that heats a first region of the channel, a second heating unit that heats a second region of the channel nearer the insertion opening than the first region, a drive mechanism that switches arrangement of the attachment unit, the first heating unit, and the second heating unit between a first arrangement and a second arrangement, and a control unit that controls the first heating unit to be at a temperature at which reverse transcription reaction progresses and the second heating unit to be at a temperature at which the reverse transcriptase enzyme is not deactivated.

Abstract: This analysis apparatus includes a plurality of a plurality of measurement units of mutually identical types generating measurement data by measuring the specimens, a transporter transporting the specimens to the respective ones of the plurality of measurement units, a display, common to the plurality of measurement units, displaying the analytical results generated by analyzing the measurement data and a transmitter transmitting the analytical results to a host computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for at least one of storage, treatment, assessment and transport of an organ or tissue includes a coolant container configured to cool the organ or tissue, a perfusion circuit configured to perfuse the organ or tissue, and a sample compartment for holding a biological sample. Preferred apparatus has a first internal compartment under a first cover (lid) of the apparatus that includes the coolant container and the sample compartment. The apparatus can include a second internal compartment under a second cover (lid) of the apparatus, the second internal compartment including at least part of the perfusion circuit and a sample compartment.

Abstract: A system for processing sample tubes comprising biological samples is presented. The system comprises two or more work cells for processing samples. In conjugation with at least two of the work cells, the system comprises one of the following units: a pipetting unit for withdrawing a volume of sample from a sample tube to be processed by the work cell and/or dispensing a volume of liquid into the sample tube, and an analytical unit for determining at least one sample parameter of a sample contained in a sample tube. The system further comprises a decapping/recapping device for each of the at least two work cells for removing a closure from a sample tube and for reclosing the sample tube before it is transported to another work cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotatable device (1) for transporting reaction vessels in an automatic analysis apparatus, said device (1) comprising a circular base plate (16), and a number of holders (2) which are connected to the base plate (16), are preferably made of a plastic and comprise the receiving positions (4, 6) for the reaction vessels.

Abstract: A closure system for a holder for a reaction vessel in an automatic analysis apparatus includes a lid secured movably on a retainer element, wherein the lid closes an opening of the holder in a closed position and opens the opening of the holder in an open position. The closure system further includes a restoring element configured to, depending on the position of the lid, exert a restoring force in the direction of the closed position or of the open position.

Abstract: A specimen storage device capable of easily identifying a specific specimen plate stored in a rack is proposed. The specimen storage device for storing a tested specimen plate in a rack capable of storing a plurality of specimen plates, the specimen storage device including specimen storage section configured to store the specimen plate in the rack, and a control section configured to control the specimen storage section to store a specific specimen plate, whose test result satisfies a predetermined condition, in the rack in a manner distinguishable from a one or more specimen plate, whose test result does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for archiving specimens in specimen vessels. The apparatus includes an archive room accessible via a lock for automated feeding of vessels into and out of the room. A storage and restacking system is disposed in the room and includes two side-by-side stacks of trays in a receiving area. Each tray has a receptacle area defining a plurality of receptacles therein, each configured to receive a single vessel. A stacking means forms the stacks of trays. One tray is stacked on another in such a way as to maintain a clearance relative to the receptacle area of the lower tray. A lifting means is provided for vertically lifting trays stacked on a selected tray; and a transfer means is provided for horizontal transfer of a selected tray from one stack to the other, or from one stack to the lock, or from the lock to one of the stacks.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes: a disk having a plurality of holding sections for holding a plurality of containers on the circumference of the disk or on a closed loop that rotationally moves, the disk adapted to move the plurality of containers; a reagent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a reagent into the container on the disk; and a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sample into the container on the disk. The automatic analyzer also includes a container transfer mechanism for mounting the container in the holding sections on the disk. The container transfer mechanism is driven in such a manner that the container can be mounted in the plurality of holding sections on the disk.

Abstract: A perfusion apparatus includes a coolant container having a basin-receiving recess that is at least partly surrounded by an inner chamber; a basin that is shaped to fit within the basin-receiving recess of the coolant container; and a cradle that is shaped to accept an organ and fit within the basin. The basin-receiving recess of the coolant container, the basin and the cradle each have positioning elements that are oriented such that the cradle is keyed to fit within the basin and the basin is keyed to fit within the coolant container, each in a single predetermined orientation. The plurality of positioning elements on the basin may include a plurality of protrusions on an outer surface of the basin.

Abstract: A perfusion apparatus including a perfusion circuit that perfuses an organ or tissue has a compartment that supports an organ or tissue during perfusion, an internal cover, and an external cover that closes the apparatus. A wall portion may extend substantially perpendicularly between the internal cover and the external cover to define a document compartment between the internal cover, the external cover and the wall portion. A tamper evident seal will not permit the external cover to open without creating a record of whether the external cover has been opened after the tamper evident seal has been activated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a continuous material extraction system for extracting valuable components from a material with a solvent. Specifically, the system includes an extraction tank, a solvent inlet in the upper portion of the tank, a solution inlet in the lower portion of the tank, an extraction bath for the solvent and the material, a material conveying mechanism and an ultrasonic generator.

Abstract: Pipetting apparatus has a block for holding pipette tips and connecting to pipette cones of a multiple-pipette head of a liquid handling apparatus. The block has cavities in an array and pipette tips inserted therein as well as conical plug-in openings for pipette cones of a multiple-pipette head. The block additionally has devices for connecting the block and the head. The block has receptacles with a shoulder and inserts for inserting into the receptacles, insert having a cavity, a cylindrical insertion opening with inserted pipette tip and a conical plug-in opening for sealing introduction of a pipette cone. Each insert has a support with which it rests on the shoulder of a corresponding receptacle when inserted into the block. Preferably each insert lies in the corresponding receptacle of the block with horizontal play on all sides.

Abstract: To provide a specimen storage device capable of preventing liquid such as immersion oil and the like attached to the specimen plate from leaking to the outside of the rack and capable of enhancing the operation efficiency by automating the supply and discharge of the rack. Provided is a specimen storage device which stores a imaged specimen plate in a bottomed-shaped rack having an opening at an upper part, the specimen storage device including a rack transport mechanism which transports the rack with the opening directed upward, and a specimen transport mechanism which transports the specimen in an up-down direction, wherein the rack transport mechanism transports the rack to a predetermined specimen storage position, and the specimen transport mechanism stores the specimen to the rack positioned at the specimen storage position from above the rack.

Abstract: Devices for collection and elution of oral fluid samples and the like enable collection and elution of samples by using a handle in the form of a rod having a collection pad thereon which is inserted into a collection tube. The collection tube has an adaptor with a narrowed portion associated therewith for squeezing the pad to wring a sample therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, the collection tube has a narrowed portion that squeezes the pad as the pad is inserted there though. Caps are provided to 1) support the rod in an assembly with the adaptor and collection tube to form an assembled sample collection device and 2) to close the collection tube after the handle and pad are removed from the collection tube subsequent to depositing the sample elution solution therein. The eluted sample can be used for detection of an analyte.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a storage unit for storing operation information information about usage histories of expendable supplies provided for the analysis, and an analysis-ID control unit giving an ID to the analysis, the analysis ID being used as information for identifying the analysis to derive a calibration curve. Data stored in the storage unit is organized along the same time axis both in the order of samples subjected to the analysis and inspection, and in the order of analysis items, so that the data is output in a total data display area. The data is organized from the viewpoint of an analysis process of an analysis item of each sample. By use of information used to identify an influence range based on a kind of an abnormal state, which is stored beforehand, a judgment is made as to whether or not it is necessary to perform reinspection.

Abstract: A specimen transporter connected to a specimen imaging apparatus, the specimen transporter including a specimen receiving section that receives a specimen plate and a specimen storage section that stores an imaged specimen plate. Specimen transporting sections transport the specimen plate from the specimen receiving section to the specimen imaging apparatus and from the specimen imaging apparatus to the specimen storage section. A control section controls operations of the specimen transporting sections to transport the specimen plate received by the specimen receiving section to the specimen imaging apparatus and transport the imaged specimen plate received from the specimen imaging apparatus to the specimen storage section.

Abstract: A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks includes a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), the primary racks (PR) to be handled include a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and the gripper (222) includes a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.

Abstract: After being dispensed, a sample that needs to be quickly measured passes through another unit and is transported to an automatic analyzer. A plurality of units are provided for functions of processing including a dispensing unit that dispenses the sample stored in a sample vessel into another sample vessel. At least one discharge line discharges the sample from the dispensing unit to a transport line and a line that is perpendicular to the discharge line. A reverse direction transport line transports the sample in a direction reverse to a direction in which the sample loaded in the system is transported to the dispensing unit. The sample that is processed by the dispensing unit is transported to a storage unit located on the upstream side of the system, through the reverse direction transport line.